When the President ripped open a culture war a few weeks ago, I decided I was not going to write about it because the whole intent of Donald Trump was to create division. The week after, I wrote a draft, and I trashed it because I still felt it was too divisive.

During the past week there have been four vehicular fatalities within Scott County, and another one outside of the county, in Pearl, involving a former member of the Forest Police Department and Scott County Sheriff’s Office.

Bob Cesaro, stage name, Robert James Starr, will be performing solo at the Wing Dang Doodle Festival during the Talent Showcase, featuring local talent. Cesaro is releasing an album titled, Unfinished Bizzness, which he will be giving out free copies of at the festival.

Forest High graduate and former front-office secretary, Heather Hanks Hollingsworth was released from her position on Sept. 1 and later arrested following allegations of inappropriate contact via digital media with a student under the age of 18.

The permitting of wine and liquor sales in Forest faces the uphill challenge that entails first gathering and certifying 798 registered voter signatures on a petition. And then, within 60 days of delivering the petition, those in favor must turn out voters to actually pass the measure.

The MSU Scott County Extension has a lobby that is utilized to host various events and conferences at the site. That room is known as the Magnolia Room as it is home to a small gallery of magnolia paintings and illustrations gathered by County Coordinator, Anita Webb.

Forest Baptist Church’s history reaches back to 1867 when the congregation began meeting at the homes of its members. Starting in 1870, the congregation met on the first Sunday of each month at the Presbyterian church.

The idea of a new tax usually does not go over well. Realistically, this will not be happening in the immediate future, but it will sit in the back of people’s minds I hope like a pink elephant (or more metaphorically appropriate, a pink, ceramic pig).

Burns Clothing opened on East Main St. in downtown Forest on August 1, 1978. The family owned and named department store is beginning its 40th year in business this month. Tom and Margaret Burns opened their doors only a few months after marrying in April of 1978.